New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-07-23
MR.. WATTERSONS REMEDY.

MR. VATTERSONS REMEDY.
As session Of Congress approaches, tho
tariff rock looms up again in the way OF
Democrats. Having split ON it many times,
and found it the cause of many defeats, the
party not unnaturally oonfronts this threat
ening obstacle with anxiety. Arguments and
expostulations abound In Democratic dis
cussions appeals to all men who have con-
vctions to put them aside for the sake of
harmony, and beseechng reminders that
something must be done in the way of tariff
revision and revenue reduction, or the party
will be defeated as unfit for responsibility,
and there will be no Democratic President
to "reform, the Civil Service for the benefit
of Democrats after March, 1889.
Mr.. Watterson, of Kentucky, naturally
comes to the front in such an emergency
His plan is now, as it long has been, to shoot
the deserters. Harmony by that process can
always be attained with certainty, but per-
haps not with victory as well. The Dem
ocrats who have refused to support free
trade bills know their own districts, and al o
probably right in believing that utter defeat
for them and their party would result In
their States from any free-trade revision OF
the tariff But Mr. Watterson and the West
em Democrats whom he leads appear TO
believe firmly that the party would gain moro
than it would lose by such revision, and
that. at all events 1t must inevitably be de-
feated if it continues to shilk the issue
What Mr.. Watterson says about the Southern
question and the Civil Service may be brushed
aside as irrelevant. He seeks to defend
wholesale vote stealing by his party at tho
South, but he is not able to deny the wrongs
of which Republicans complain He hates
Mugwump Civil Service and yet, like
other Democrats, would keep his party in
power if he could by using to the utmost all
the Presidents false pretences, and also all
tho power of Civil Service organized as
a Democratic machine.
The tariff is an issue upon which the Dem
ocrats must act or stand condemned. Mr.
Watterson Is right in saying that no con
ceivable pledge or platform can be adopted
by the Democratic National Convention which
will save the party. What the party has
tried to do will inevitably be the test by
which twill be judged. If nothing gets done
at the next session, the party will be judged
by the Morrison bills which it has tired to
pass. Professions and pledges by the thou
sand no matter how explicit, will weigh alb
solutely nothing against the record when tho
question goes to the voters.
Organs of the Administration are fertile
in assurance Just now that the President Will
have o reform measure to submit next win
ter. They take great pains not to tell what
it will be, but are sure that it will have
caucus approval and be sustained by all
the power of patronage. That means Civil
Service reform, of the Democratic variety,
in full frutage Pierce and Buchanan
crammed through Congress party measures
by use Of patronage. and tore the Democratic
party asunder Thence grew the profound
conviction, intensified by Andew Johnsons
treachery, that the use Of the public service
and the appointing power to cocrce the action
of representatives Of the people could no
longer be tolerated. The very object OF re-
form was to get rid Of attempted Executive
dctation. Democratic reaction has spongeJ
out tho reform, under various fraudulent
pretences which Mugwumps defend, and IL
only remains for Democratic President to
use the patronage, as Pierce and Buchanan
did, to force through Congress an obnoxious
policy.
The Republicans would be glad to see the
Democratic party take definite position Oh
the tariff and the surplus question. 1t would
especially help them to see public patronage
employed to guillotine Democrats who REJECT
an Administration tariff. The process would
mako the country understand what Mr.. Glove
lands reform" really means, and what kind
Of tariff is to be expected from the election
of a Democratic President The growth of
industries at the South, and the development
of public opinion in Western and Southern
States on tho necessity of sustaining agri-
culture by building up manufactures and en-
larging the home market, would render The
result sufficiently certain.